Cook Once Eat All Week (Review)

I tried out my latest cookbook purchase this week, the Cook Once Eat all Week book by Cassy Joy Garcia!  (Anyone else read cookbooks like novels?) Meal prepping is not a new concept for most of us, but this author approaches it a bit differently. She provides you with 26 weeks of meal prep and recipes. Each week is based around 1 protein, 1 starch, and 1 vegetable. From those main ingredients, you create 3 completely different meals.

Here is a quick visual of all 26 weeks and their 3 main ingredients. All recipes are gluten free, although you could of course substitute regular pasta for a few of the recipes. She also gives options for those who are paleo, dairy free, etc. Each week does contain an animal protein, so this cookbook would not work for a vegan or vegetarian. That is actually my main gripe about the book. I think it really could have benefited from having a couple weeks that focus on plant-based proteins, such as beans.

On your "Prep Day" you follow the instructions to prepare the main components for your meals. The directions are very well organized. For me, it took about 1.5 hours, although that included a diaper change, helping Jenna with schoolwork, switching laundry, and loading the dishwasher. I definitely could have completed everything in under an hour without distractions.

The fruits of my labor! Meal prepping this way should save a bit of money, since you are buying fewer ingredients in bulk, rather than tons of different items. You could really be diligent about planning your weeks based on what meat is on sale, and I bet you'd see a reduction in your grocery bill.

On the night of cooking, each recipe takes very minimal time, since the majority of the work is already done. I started with week 1, which was based around shredded chicken, broccoli, and rice.

Night 1 was this BBQ Chicken and Rice Casserole. I actually didn't have high hopes for it...….

But we loved it! Adam said it was one of the best dishes I have ever made. And Ryan said "If you made this every night I would totally scarf it down". (If nothing else, I now know I can "rice" broccoli and stir it into regular rice and my 9 year old will eat it. Hallelujah!) This made enough for dinner and lunch leftovers the next day. Hands-on cooking time was maybe 5 minutes.

 Recipe #2 was White Chicken Chili.

I ended up with a migraine on this day, so Adam had to step in and prepare dinner. Thankfully, most ingredients were already prepped so he didn't have to do much! The end result was yummy and came together in about 10 minutes.

 The 3rd recipe was Chicken and Broccoli Fried Rice.

Adam wasn't in love with the flavor, but I thought it was good! I love when my food actually looks like the picture in the cookbook.

I was curious if we would feel like we ate the same foods all week, but we honestly didn't. Now granted, it was only 3 nights of meals. But even after 3 nights, I didn't feel tired of chicken, rice and broccoli. Each recipe was so unique and different. And I actually like that you aren't preparing food for an entire week. On our other 2 weekday nights we ate salmon and ground beef, so we still had plenty of variety.

 I went through the cookbook and flagged 13 weeks that I believe my family would enjoy. I'd say that's pretty terrific, given how picky my kids can be. I can't wait to cook next week's food.....Picadillo Tacos anyone?

Let me know if you have any questions about my newest cookbook!